One of my favourite places to go for a walk is the site of the old Knifeworks, part of the Merritt Trail system. The entrance off Westchester at Oakdale makes it a great downtown park for a walk on your lunch hour or after work. There is a walkway that is mostly paved that runs on each side of the old canal, which still runs briskly with water in all seasons. It's a great place to go birding, and I have added many new species there, and in the extension of the park on the other side of Westchester. Some of the species I've seen there are: Eastern Kingbird, Red-Bellied Sapsucker, Black and White Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, and many others. It's a stopover place for migration for many species, and I once came across a flock of dozens of robins in early February, all scratching madly in the leaf mold to scare up a few early or hibernating insects.
My visit today didn't yield anything more exotic than a few chickadees, and my hopes of catching sight of some early migrators was dashed. But it was a beautiful day for a walk, and I enjoyed it tremendously.
I am posting a few shots from my archives from this hidden gem of a park. If you live in the area, you should check it out!
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| Baltimore Oriole |
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| Brown-headed Cowbird pair |
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| Chestnut-sided Warbler |
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| Eastern Kingbird |
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| Northern Flicker |
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Great Crested Flycatcher
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